Raw Redemption (Crossing the Line #4)(16)

Okay, he’d barely managed to convince himself with that utter lack of conviction, let alone Ailish. “You said you wanted to kiss me.”

“Wanting and doing are two different things.”

“Now you’re talking about doing.” She clucked her tongue. “Make up your mind, Growler.”

Jesus, she was so damn cute, he almost threw the truck into park right there, on the side of the road, just so he could tell her so. “I changed my mind about something. Last night, you said you don’t usually talk to men…the way you spoke to me.”

“About my see-through panties?”

“Yeah, that.” He sounded like someone was strangling him. Probably because he could already feel the subsequent regret from his next question. Not to mention they were having a casual conversation about her underwear. “What do you usually do?”

Ailish ran her fingertips up the inside of his arm. “Little touches like this. Or straightening a tie when it’s not really crooked.”

Henrik stuffed down the urge to clap a hand over her mouth, make her stop talking about what she did to entice other men. But finding out what made her tick was more important.

“There was one man who worked for my dad who had to leave the room whenever I ate a Popsicle. I think he hated me a little.”

Christ. Henrik might have actually felt bad for the guy if he didn’t wish him permanent blindness and non-opposable thumbs. “Why do you do it?” he managed.

“Because they kept me confined. Ran my life. I needed a way to feel like I had something…some kind of weapon.” Her touch slid ever so slightly higher on his jeans, the very tip of her middle finger brushing his cock. “Since I couldn’t date, I learned to be content with being wanted.”

“Yeah?” he rasped. “You must be pretty damn content.”

She turned her face into his neck…and just exhaled. “No. I don’t think I’d be content with just teasing you. I’d want more.”

Regret didn’t even begin to cover what he felt for leading them into this little question-and-answer period. He hadn’t thought it possible to need her more, but she’d slammed her foot down on the accelerator pedal of his lust like a Formula One driver. The remainder of his functioning brain zeroed in on two things she’d said. I couldn’t date…I learned to be content. “Ailish, baby, are you a virgin?”

“No,” she said, her focus on his mouth. “But I don’t think that one guy in high school would be an even match for you.”

It was lucky they had just reached the parking area, because Henrik might have crashed the truck otherwise. He shoved the car into park, his intention to get out of the vehicle to calm himself down. Breathe through the wild arousal his body had been gripped with. Yeah, he just needed to get out of the truck. Now.

Henrik yanked Ailish onto his lap sideways and fit her snug ass right over his cock. Then he gripped her hips and moved her in a circle, groaning at the friction, the openmouthed look of awe on her face. “No, Ailish, he wouldn’t be a match for me. Because once I’d been inside your body, you sure as f*ck wouldn’t be referring to me as the guy afterward. I’d be the man whose name can still make you sweat through your clothes. The man whose name makes you cross your thighs and palm your tits. Don’t ever speak about me in the same breath as the guy. Ever again.”

Her wide-eyed shock lasted a few beats before her spine snapped straight. “Was there a pl—”

“Please.” Lord, this girl was going to drive him crazy. “All right? Please don’t ever do it again.”

Ahhhh then Ailish just melted into him, her bottom doing this half scoot, half drag on his lap and wrenching a curse from the depths of his soul. With his harsh sentiment still hanging in the air, her lips settled against his. Light, light, like fog rolling in above lake water. Hell broke loose inside him despite the gentleness of her kiss, however, his bones expanding, the organ guarded by his rib cage booming, booming. He could actually see the white flag of surrender lifting. To the kiss. Just a kiss. Pulling away—especially when she suddenly seemed so unsure—was beyond his capabilities where Ailish was concerned.

Henrik licked along her bottom lip. “Part your lips for me and I’ll give you a kiss.” He cupped her right knee and squeezed. “But you keep your thighs together. If you open them up like you want more than my mouth, I’ll stop.”

“Okay,” she whispered, appearing dazed. “For now.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to issue another warning, but she mimicked the way he’d licked her bottom lip…and Henrik fell into the abyss. He released her knee in favor of bringing her head close, close as possible, until their mouths were meshed so tight it was an effort to work his lips. And f*ck, it was well worth the effort, because she tasted like coffee and fruit and hazy afternoon sex. He couldn’t even recall a time he’d experienced afternoon sex, but this is how he’d always imagined it. Slow and greedy. Mouths picking up speed, lips growing slick. Hands that grew steadily more demanding, the way his were. Twining in her long red hair, tugging, growling in answer to the way she gasped at his treatment.

She did this goddamn thing, running her fingertips over his nipples. Jesus, had he ever liked that before? He sure as shit did now. Even more when she seemed to sense he wanted more…and she scratched at them through his T-shirt. As if those two disks had a direct line to his cock, the swelling between his legs increased, but the flesh had nowhere to go with Ailish sitting right on top of him. Unless he moved her skirt just a little to one side and made room. Don’t do it.